Carbon footprint of a wind turbine: a life cycle assessment

The carbon footprint of a wind turbine over its entire life cycle is significantly lower than that of fossil fuel-based power generation. While some emissions occur during manufacturing and construction, these are offset within a relatively short period of operation, often within two years. In comparison with fossil fuels, wind delivers roughly 98 per cent fewer lifecycle emissions, greatly contributing to the fight against climate change.

Life‑cycle assessments (LCAs) quantify the total greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated (g CO₂e/kWh). According to 2025 reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, onshore wind produces from 7–11 g CO₂e/kWh, while offshore ranges from 8–14 g CO₂e/kWh.

This is the most carbon‑intensive phase. A 2024 LCA found that 91.7 per cent of life cycle CO₂ originates in manufacturing, mostly from steel, concrete, composites and rare earth elements.

Transport emissions depend on distance and mode, with a range of 0.5–3 g CO₂e/kWh for road, rail or sea transport.

Including foundation pouring, assembly and grid connection, typical emissions are 1–4 g CO₂e/kWh, depending on site complexity.

Multiple variables shape a turbine’s life cycle emissions:

Steel, concrete and composites carry carbon costs. Using recycled steel or wooden towers and lighter composites reduces emissions.

Longer transport distances increase CO₂ emissions. Onshore foundations may use concrete, whereas offshore uses steel, each with differing footprints.

Larger turbines generate more energy relative to embodied carbon, providing quicker offset.

More consistent wind means more energy generated, spreading fixed emissions over greater output.

Blade recycling is currently limited but improving. Thermoplastic resins or recyclable composites simplify recycling.

Yes, ongoing innovation is targeting multiple reduction strategies:

Adding concrete to towers to limit the steel consumption is beneficial in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The most environmentally friendly option is the wooden tower.

Magnet-free generators can reduce the carbon footprint of wind turbines by improving efficiency, reducing reliance on rare earth elements and enabling more powerful turbines without increasing their physical size.

Producing concrete or steel near deployment reduces transport emissions.

Reusing foundations or refurbishing turbines reduces carbon.

Digital systems and predictive maintenance enhance capacity factors and lifespan.

Norwegian industry is actively pursuing carbon‑reduction strategies across the wind energy life cycle. A key focus area is blade recycling, with several initiatives to develop methods for recycling composite materials from decommissioned blades. 

Here’s a more detailed look:

This company collaborated with Vattenfall and EVI to extract fibreglass and carbon fibre from retired wind turbine blades and repurpose them into skis, demonstrating a circular economy approach.

The DecomBlades project’s aim is to establish cost-efficient and viable value chains for the recycling of wind turbine blades. The consortium teamed up with fibreglass producer 3B in launching a groundbreaking commercial-scale experiment at 3B’s plant in Birkeland, Norway.